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Subject: |
Questions |
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Date of Meeting: |
18 November 2020 |
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Report of: |
Executive Lead Officer for Strategy, Governance & Law |
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Contact Officer: |
Name: |
Shaun Hughes |
Tel: |
01273 293059 |
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E-mail: |
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Wards Affected: |
All |
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FOR GENERAL RELEASE
1. SUMMARY AND POLICY CONTEXT:
1.1 To receive any questions submitted to Democratic Services.
2. RECOMMENDATIONS:
2.2 That the Committee responds to the questions.
3. Questions:
3.1 David Croydon
Earlier this year, the panels for the unsuccessful recruitment, selection and appointment of a permanent Executive Director of Housing, Neighbourhoods and Communities included public involvement.
The current, temporary appointment did not have such involvement.
Can I ask what the plan is when this temporary appointment comes to an end and how will the public involvement be handled?
3.2 Rebecca Rieley (BHT)
Following the deputation shared at the September Housing Committee meeting, Justlife and Fulfilling Lives would like to ask what progress is being made to take forward the agreed actions for the proposed Emergency Accommodation Charter?
3.3 Jim Deans
I am founder of Sussex Homeless Support, every year council does a head count of rough sleepers, this year due to Covid-19 it will change but. Are Councillors aware as part of this change charities are being asked to identify, "Name, DOB, Nationality and Rough Sleeper Location" why does Government require this information more than just a street count.
3.4 David Thomas
"We are pleased that the Council have maintained an unconditional offer of accommodation to rough sleepers since the Spring, though we note unhappily that this will no longer apply to persons with no recourse to public funds. We know that there are a significant and increasing number of people sleeping rough nevertheless. What are the arrangements for the SWEP (Severe Weather Emergency Protocol) shelters this winter; has it yet been in operation, and if so, who was responsible, and when and where was it open, and what were the arrangements to make sure rough sleepers knew of its operation?"
3.5 Sue Forrest
At Galvanise Brighton & Hove we are aware from our own interviews with people rough sleeping of the huge risks to any person forced to sleep rough - even for one night. Research shows that rough sleepers are particularly vulnerable to physical, sexual and verbal abuse as well as significant detrimental effects to their physical and mental wellbeing.
We would like to know if the Committee can confirm that all people found rough sleeping in the city are still being offered accommodation as soon as they are found on the streets (the Everyone In initiative) , so they do not need to sleep out longer than necessary.
Can you clarify the process of how people are being accommodated when the hotels are full, what accommodation is being offered and if people are being offered accommodation outside the city. Please can you confirm how people are being given the right support from local organisations. Can you also outline how much of this support is face to face.
Would the committee also share a report relating to the number of people found rough sleeping since the beginning of April 2020, the number of people rough sleeping who were accommodated and where (type of
accommodation) and the number of people moved on to long term sustainable accommodation (by breakdown of type of accommodation and tenancy type).
Lastly, can the committee share some examples of how the council has consulted with people rough sleeping over the last few months to ensure that the council's response has met their needs.